19:45 Tuesday 13th. October 2oo9
@ Eynsham Park
Southern League Division 1 South & West
Admission £6
Programme £1
Sausage & Chips £2
After 9 days of family get-togethers, overtime and dealing with a leaky washing machine, it was a great feeling to be stood on the small bank of covered terracing at Eynsham Park, back in the swing of things. I arrived at North Leigh as daylight was fading, so no chance of taking any useful snaps. Very scenic peaceful tree-lined area, I parked up next to the second pitch which was bathed in halogen lighting. The clubhouse and an old wooden pavillion look over this. The main ground itself is a short ninety second trek, I had been forewarned that there was a sizeable slope, and can confirm that this is very much the case, although it's not so steep as to be make the game farcical.
And what a game it was. Andy McCabe scored with a stunning volley on 21 minutes which left Hungerford's keeper flailing, this prompted chants form the vocal home fans of the comparision between 'Nor Lye' and those yellow-shirted South Americans Brazil. It was certainly a goal of great worth. Four minutes later Hungerford's #11 headed against the post as both teams went hell for leather.
Second half continued at breakneck pace and it was North Leigh who triumphed when after a great deal of pressure a rebound fell to Helby who lashed it into the bottom corner from 18 yards out. This prompted complaints from Hungerford.
Final Score North Leigh 2 Hungerford Town 0 (HT 1-0)
Attendance 118
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Monday, 12 October 2009
Enfield 1893 v Southend Manor
13:00 Sunday October 4th. 2009
@ Goffs Lane
FA Vase 1st. Rnd.
Admission ticket supplied by Russ
Programme £1.50
A scrappy game which Manor would have won comfortably if they had a striker who could finish. Enfield clinched this with an Aboua-Boua header ten minutes into the second half. Lee Benmore forced Southend's keeper into a fantastic save in the closing seconds, but that was as good as it got for us biased home fans.
Enfield will now face Cambridge Regional College away in the second round, Sunday November 15th.
Final Score Enfield 1893 1 Southend Manor 0 (HT 0-0)
Attendance 64
@ Goffs Lane
FA Vase 1st. Rnd.
Admission ticket supplied by Russ
Programme £1.50
A scrappy game which Manor would have won comfortably if they had a striker who could finish. Enfield clinched this with an Aboua-Boua header ten minutes into the second half. Lee Benmore forced Southend's keeper into a fantastic save in the closing seconds, but that was as good as it got for us biased home fans.
Enfield will now face Cambridge Regional College away in the second round, Sunday November 15th.
Final Score Enfield 1893 1 Southend Manor 0 (HT 0-0)
Attendance 64
Saturday, 3 October 2009
Northampton Town v Bradford City
15:00 Saturday 3rd. October 2009
@ Sixfields
Nationwide League 2
Admission season/ticket
I hereby apologise to Bradford keeper Mr. Westwood, who had to endure the vile abuse of the two drunken fellows who came with me, one was so inebriated that he left with twenty-five minutes remaining. To be fair at that stage Town were 2 goals behind and didn't look close. Caretaker gaffer Ian Sampson made the inspired decision to bring on young Alex Dyer, who repaid the favour with a fine left-foot volley, before Mulligan equalised with a header shortly before time. Those fighting qualities had been lacking in the final days of Stuart Gray's reign, and they were enough to see 'Sammo' appointed as manager proper until the end of the season.
Final Score Northampton Town 2 Bradford City 2
Attendance 4391
@ Sixfields
Nationwide League 2
Admission season/ticket
I hereby apologise to Bradford keeper Mr. Westwood, who had to endure the vile abuse of the two drunken fellows who came with me, one was so inebriated that he left with twenty-five minutes remaining. To be fair at that stage Town were 2 goals behind and didn't look close. Caretaker gaffer Ian Sampson made the inspired decision to bring on young Alex Dyer, who repaid the favour with a fine left-foot volley, before Mulligan equalised with a header shortly before time. Those fighting qualities had been lacking in the final days of Stuart Gray's reign, and they were enough to see 'Sammo' appointed as manager proper until the end of the season.
Final Score Northampton Town 2 Bradford City 2
Attendance 4391
Wednesday, 30 September 2009
Aylesbury FC v Wingate & Finchley
19:45 Tuesday 29th. September 2009
at Haywood Way
FA Cup 2nd. Qualifying Round replay
Admission £7
Programme £1
Websites/Colours Aylesbury (red & black), Wingate & Finchley (sky blue)
Aylesbury marched on to a plum tie at home to Chesham United , after putting visitors Wingate & Finchley to the sword. Craig Henney opened the scoring on 13 minutes, cutting in from the left and shooting low across the keeper. Aylesbury's lead was shortlived as Finchley equalised almost immediately through a header from their no. 7, it took a header from Graham on 36 minutes to restore the lead. Aylesbury continued to press and had 3 golden opportunitites to increase their tally, some excellent goalkeeping kept the score down.
Final Score Aylesbury FC 2 Wingate & Finchley 1 (HT 2-1)
Attendance 87
at Haywood Way
FA Cup 2nd. Qualifying Round replay
Admission £7
Programme £1
Websites/Colours Aylesbury (red & black), Wingate & Finchley (sky blue)
Aylesbury marched on to a plum tie at home to Chesham United , after putting visitors Wingate & Finchley to the sword. Craig Henney opened the scoring on 13 minutes, cutting in from the left and shooting low across the keeper. Aylesbury's lead was shortlived as Finchley equalised almost immediately through a header from their no. 7, it took a header from Graham on 36 minutes to restore the lead. Aylesbury continued to press and had 3 golden opportunitites to increase their tally, some excellent goalkeeping kept the score down.
Final Score Aylesbury FC 2 Wingate & Finchley 1 (HT 2-1)
Attendance 87
Friday, 25 September 2009
Twyford United v Brackley Sports
19:30 Thursday 24th. September 2009
at Ford Meadow, Buckingham Town FC
Buckingham (Junior) Charity Cup 1st. Rnd.
Admission £1.50 on the board, but was asked for £1. (made up for at the tea bar)
Websites/Colours Twyford United (red/black stripes), Brackley Sports (Argentina blue/white)
Always a pleasure to visit Ford Meadow, and tonight didn't disappoint. Over the summer the clubhouse has had a clean-up with new tiles and a fresh coat of paint. Temperatures are beginning to drop, and it's necessary to wear a jacket now as the winter season nears.
On the pitch first half acrobatic heroics from the Brackley keeper kept Twyford at bay, and it paid off when shortly before the interval his teammate #6 produced a right foot curling chip with the outside of his boot into the top corner. The second period continued in the same vein, with plenty of long-range efforts from both sides. A sweet strike on 73 minutes from the edge of the 18-yard box by Twyford's #4 levelled things. However towards the end United flagged and the final two goals came from pacy right wing play, crosses on the right were coolly finished by numbers 11 (83min) and 10 (85min) respectively.
All the matches in the Junior section of this competition are played at Buckingham's ground, over the next seven weeks a game will be played here every Thursday night. EGAIC intends to be at the majority of these.
Final Score Twyford United 1 Brackley Sports 3 (HT0-1)
Attendance 17 (h/c)
at Ford Meadow, Buckingham Town FC
Buckingham (Junior) Charity Cup 1st. Rnd.
Admission £1.50 on the board, but was asked for £1. (made up for at the tea bar)
Websites/Colours Twyford United (red/black stripes), Brackley Sports (Argentina blue/white)
Always a pleasure to visit Ford Meadow, and tonight didn't disappoint. Over the summer the clubhouse has had a clean-up with new tiles and a fresh coat of paint. Temperatures are beginning to drop, and it's necessary to wear a jacket now as the winter season nears.
On the pitch first half acrobatic heroics from the Brackley keeper kept Twyford at bay, and it paid off when shortly before the interval his teammate #6 produced a right foot curling chip with the outside of his boot into the top corner. The second period continued in the same vein, with plenty of long-range efforts from both sides. A sweet strike on 73 minutes from the edge of the 18-yard box by Twyford's #4 levelled things. However towards the end United flagged and the final two goals came from pacy right wing play, crosses on the right were coolly finished by numbers 11 (83min) and 10 (85min) respectively.
All the matches in the Junior section of this competition are played at Buckingham's ground, over the next seven weeks a game will be played here every Thursday night. EGAIC intends to be at the majority of these.
Final Score Twyford United 1 Brackley Sports 3 (HT0-1)
Attendance 17 (h/c)
Thursday, 24 September 2009
AFC Dunstable v Ampthill Town
19:45 Wednesday 23rd. September 2009
at Creasey Park
Spartan South Midlands League Division 1
Admission £2
Programme £1
Websites / Colours AFC Dunstable (royal blue,white trim), Ampthill Town (Argentina blue and white stripes)
My first visit of this season to Creasey Park - I'd read online that the main stand was out of action and this is very much the case, both staircases boarded up and the players and officials changing in portacabins next to the clubhouse. A shame as there was a fantastic view from up the top, so I made do with propping my frame against the crash barriers on the wonky terracing. Thankfully we were treated to a reasonably entertaining game, one in which AFC Dunstable will regret wastefulness in front of goal. Ampthill took the lead early on, and then lost their way, allowing Dunstable to net both sides of half-time, the second a belter from their dimunitive right-back. Town needed a screamer of their own and got one through no.6 to level matters on 64 minutes, a fine effort which drew loud cheers from the spartan crowd.
Final Score AFC Dunstable 2 Ampthill Town 2 (HT1-1)
Attendance 82
at Creasey Park
Spartan South Midlands League Division 1
Admission £2
Programme £1
Websites / Colours AFC Dunstable (royal blue,white trim), Ampthill Town (Argentina blue and white stripes)
My first visit of this season to Creasey Park - I'd read online that the main stand was out of action and this is very much the case, both staircases boarded up and the players and officials changing in portacabins next to the clubhouse. A shame as there was a fantastic view from up the top, so I made do with propping my frame against the crash barriers on the wonky terracing. Thankfully we were treated to a reasonably entertaining game, one in which AFC Dunstable will regret wastefulness in front of goal. Ampthill took the lead early on, and then lost their way, allowing Dunstable to net both sides of half-time, the second a belter from their dimunitive right-back. Town needed a screamer of their own and got one through no.6 to level matters on 64 minutes, a fine effort which drew loud cheers from the spartan crowd.
Final Score AFC Dunstable 2 Ampthill Town 2 (HT1-1)
Attendance 82
Sunday, 20 September 2009
Old Woodstock Town v Bethnal Green United
15:00 Sunday 20th. September
@ Oxford Road, Bicester Town FC
FA Vase 2nd. Qualifying Round
Admission & Programme 5
A tale of a game where one side could finish, the other could not. Woodstock missed a penalty at 3-1 down when in the ascendancy, and that summed up their afternoon. United on the other hand were effectively direct, and 3 good finishes deservedly saw them through.
Final Score Old Woodstock Town 1 Bethnal Green United 3
Attendance TBC
@ Oxford Road, Bicester Town FC
FA Vase 2nd. Qualifying Round
Admission & Programme 5
A tale of a game where one side could finish, the other could not. Woodstock missed a penalty at 3-1 down when in the ascendancy, and that summed up their afternoon. United on the other hand were effectively direct, and 3 good finishes deservedly saw them through.
Final Score Old Woodstock Town 1 Bethnal Green United 3
Attendance TBC
Wednesday, 2 September 2009
Shillington v Marabese Ceramics
Kick Off Time / Date 18:30 Wednesday 2nd. September 2009
Venue Greenfields
Competition Bedfordshire League Division 2
Admission / Programme / Food None
I sheltered under the cover (cap. 50 ish.) alongside 8 followers of the away side. Others not counted in the above figure had the good sense to watch from the clubhouse.The pitch is 95% railed and there is hard standing of sorts behind 1 goal and leading from there to the stand. Would imagine this ground is up to the grade of a return to South Mids football, although at step 6-7 only.
Match was standard for this level, Ceramics went in at half-time 2-up. Home side pressed in the second period but a fine solo goal 4 minutes from time secured all 3 points.
Final Score Shillington 0 Marabese Ceramics 3 (HT 0-2)
Attendance 10 (h/c)
Venue Greenfields
Competition Bedfordshire League Division 2
Admission / Programme / Food None
On entering the sprawling village the floodlights can be seen from most directions, teasing drivers by sending them one wrong turn after another. On a previous visit it took almost 20 minutes to find my way through the labyrinth.
When I parked up at 20 past 6 under threatening skies I feared there was little chance of seeing a full ninety minutes. Unbeknown to me the lights at Shillington are fully functional and someone had the good sense to flick the switch pre- kick off. A good job to as play did not commence until 18:35 and due to lengthy stoppages to retrieve lost clearances did not finish until 20:25. At 19:50 it was pitch black.I sheltered under the cover (cap. 50 ish.) alongside 8 followers of the away side. Others not counted in the above figure had the good sense to watch from the clubhouse.The pitch is 95% railed and there is hard standing of sorts behind 1 goal and leading from there to the stand. Would imagine this ground is up to the grade of a return to South Mids football, although at step 6-7 only.
Match was standard for this level, Ceramics went in at half-time 2-up. Home side pressed in the second period but a fine solo goal 4 minutes from time secured all 3 points.
Final Score Shillington 0 Marabese Ceramics 3 (HT 0-2)
Attendance 10 (h/c)
Sunday, 16 August 2009
Broxbourne Borough v Enfield 1893
Kick Off / Date 13:00 Sunday 16th. August 2009
Venue Goffs Lane
Comp FA Cup Extra Premlinary Round
Venue Goffs Lane
Comp FA Cup Extra Premlinary Round
Monday, 10 August 2009
Gornal Athletic 0 Ludlow Town 5
Time / Date 15:00 Saturday 08/08/09
Gornal's Garden Walk ground isn't the easiest to find, hidden behind a maze of well-to-do residences, luckily signposted from Redhall Road. I approached from Sedgley on the B4175 Jews Lane. Parking is sufficient for a step 6 club, although drivers are warned their cars are liable to search, the first time I've ever seen such a warning. Once parked I took a wander around the Dudley suburb looking for the Black Country 'delicacy' of orange chips, but no joy, regular yellow ones were the order of the day.
The gates were not open at my usual entrance time of 2 o'clock so I wasted half an hour in the clubhouse watching the season opener between Southampton and Millwall, looking at the club shirts pinned around the walls and wondering whether the 'Peacocks' would line up in blue/white or yellow/green.
Gornal have shied away from claiming a definite year of formation before the second world war, although that ever reliable source of information , Wikipedia claims a starting year of 1919.
I'd heard all about and seen pictures of Gornal's bank of terracing but even so it's a small pleasure to see something so unusual in a real 'hidden gem' of a non-league ground. Garden Walk is within a natural hollow, on three sides houses rise up above looking down on the action below. A section of terracing to the right of the entrance was sectioned off. A small cover and section of seating has been built onto the terracing, whilst over on the far side was an older stand, with 2 rows of seats just above ground level. I spent the first 15 minutes in here sheltering from the blistering heat of the sun. Gornal plan to sell up and move into a new purpose built stadium, so this really is a 'must do' as soon as possible.
Ludlow started brightest and opened the scoring on 26 minutes. A penalty was awarded and the visiting captain stepped up only to find his low drive excellently saved by the keeper, said captain took a touch and drilled the rebound back to put Town ahead. The first half although entertaining was a scrappy affair, although this improved somewhat after the break. Very much end to end but Athletic wasted several chances and were made to pay when Ludlow's Nathan Hodge added the 2nd. on 63 minutes and then killed the game off with his second five minutes later.
Venue Garden Walk
Admission £3.50
Programme £1 (2/5)
Gornal's Garden Walk ground isn't the easiest to find, hidden behind a maze of well-to-do residences, luckily signposted from Redhall Road. I approached from Sedgley on the B4175 Jews Lane. Parking is sufficient for a step 6 club, although drivers are warned their cars are liable to search, the first time I've ever seen such a warning. Once parked I took a wander around the Dudley suburb looking for the Black Country 'delicacy' of orange chips, but no joy, regular yellow ones were the order of the day.
The gates were not open at my usual entrance time of 2 o'clock so I wasted half an hour in the clubhouse watching the season opener between Southampton and Millwall, looking at the club shirts pinned around the walls and wondering whether the 'Peacocks' would line up in blue/white or yellow/green.
Gornal have shied away from claiming a definite year of formation before the second world war, although that ever reliable source of information , Wikipedia claims a starting year of 1919.
I'd heard all about and seen pictures of Gornal's bank of terracing but even so it's a small pleasure to see something so unusual in a real 'hidden gem' of a non-league ground. Garden Walk is within a natural hollow, on three sides houses rise up above looking down on the action below. A section of terracing to the right of the entrance was sectioned off. A small cover and section of seating has been built onto the terracing, whilst over on the far side was an older stand, with 2 rows of seats just above ground level. I spent the first 15 minutes in here sheltering from the blistering heat of the sun. Gornal plan to sell up and move into a new purpose built stadium, so this really is a 'must do' as soon as possible.
Ludlow started brightest and opened the scoring on 26 minutes. A penalty was awarded and the visiting captain stepped up only to find his low drive excellently saved by the keeper, said captain took a touch and drilled the rebound back to put Town ahead. The first half although entertaining was a scrappy affair, although this improved somewhat after the break. Very much end to end but Athletic wasted several chances and were made to pay when Ludlow's Nathan Hodge added the 2nd. on 63 minutes and then killed the game off with his second five minutes later.
Hodge secured his hat-trick on 75 and a fifth was added shortly before the final whistle to seal a slightly misleading 5-0 away victory.
Final Score Gornal Athletic 0 Ludlow Town 5 (HT 0-1)
Attendance 26
More Photos Here
Colours Gornal (blue) / Ludlow (red & black)
How To Get There Getting To Football Nearest Station Coseley (BR)
Nearby Pubs The Woodman
Food / Drink Didn't have any
They've Also Been Here Midlands Non-League Football
Other Links old Gornal website
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